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Random slayer of boys set for early release
Denver Rocky Mountain News ^ | March 22, 2006 | Associated Press

Posted on 03/22/2006 4:03:46 PM PST by Graybeard58

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A man who told police he shot two teenage boys at random "to get something off my chest" was recommended for release from prison following a parole hearing Tuesday.

Jeron Grant, 26, and an accompolice were charged in the Valentine's Day 1997 shotgun shooting deaths of Andrew Westbay, 13, and Scott Hawrysiak, 15, who were gunned down at close range as they walked home after playing video games at a neighbor's house.

Parole board member Curtis Devin, who held the hearing, recommended Grant be released in either August or September, only a few weeks earlier than his mandatory October release date.

Grant still must serve an 18-month sentence in an El Paso County jail for a contempt of court conviction, and he will be on parole for three years following his release.

Grant was convicted of accessory to manslaughter in Westbay's death and being an accessory to second-degree murder in Hawrysiak's death. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, which was reduced because of good behavior.

"This was a travesty of justice right from the beginning and I hope Jeron Grant's jury is very proud of themselves that they're letting a confessed double murderer walk out on the streets," Andrew's uncle, Michael Westbay told the Colorado Springs Gazette.

During his hearing Tuesday at the Buena Vista Correctional Facilty, Grant slammed officials for not releasing him earlier.

"You sent me back year after year for aggravating factors that did not exist in my crime," said Grant, who during trial denied being the shooter.

"I was just there. I just happened to be there," he said at his parole hearing.

Jurors at the 1998 trial said the written confession of the then 17-year-old Grant wasn't believable and prosecutors presented no physical evidence to convince them Grant was the shooter.

"Did he seem apologetic? No," Devin said after the hearing. "He seemed to want to get his parting shot at the parole board."

In a separate trial Gary Flakes was convicted of being an accessory and criminally negligent homicide and received 15 years, with mandatory release in July 2010.

Devin's recommendation must still be approved by the parole board, though that wouldn't affect Grant's mandatory release date.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News
KEYWORDS: coloradosprings; earlyrelease; flakes; garyflakes; jailsentence; judgesgonewild; killem; murder; nojustice
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1 posted on 03/22/2006 4:03:48 PM PST by Graybeard58
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To: Graybeard58

It will be rather tough on the parents, family and friends of the victims.


2 posted on 03/22/2006 4:06:38 PM PST by TheDon (The Democratic Party is the party of TREASON!)
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To: TheDon

Why is he even above ground?


3 posted on 03/22/2006 4:09:28 PM PST by GW and Twins Pawpaw (Sheepdog for Five [My grandkids are way more important than any lefty's feelings!])
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To: GW and Twins Pawpaw

I will bet they don't last long on the street.


4 posted on 03/22/2006 4:10:42 PM PST by Farmer Dean (Every time a toilet flushes,another liberal gets his brains.)
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To: Farmer Dean

Correction,HE won't last long.[It's been a long day]


5 posted on 03/22/2006 4:12:00 PM PST by Farmer Dean (Every time a toilet flushes,another liberal gets his brains.)
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To: Graybeard58

If I were the dad of one of those boys, I'd be waiting outside of the prison to "get something off of my chest". I think something in a large caliber would be a great mouth piece.


6 posted on 03/22/2006 4:13:11 PM PST by GingisK
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To: Graybeard58

7 posted on 03/22/2006 4:15:34 PM PST by Number57
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To: Graybeard58
Two dead kids and two "accessories"? Heaven help us all if Mr. Grant gets something on his chest again.
8 posted on 03/22/2006 4:16:03 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Graybeard58
These animals should be dead, just like their victims.
9 posted on 03/22/2006 4:20:11 PM PST by Reactionary (The Moonbats Need an Enema)
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To: Graybeard58

This is incomprehensible.


10 posted on 03/22/2006 4:21:04 PM PST by Rte66
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To: Billthedrill

Indeed. Seems like he got that whole anger management problem solved while he was in prison, doesn't it?


11 posted on 03/22/2006 4:21:20 PM PST by MarcusTulliusCicero
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To: Number57

One of the victims. This was Andrew Westbay, shot at random as he was walking along a street by a fellow with a shotgun. His friend Scott Hawrysiak (I couldn't find a picture) was shot in the back as he ran. A Link to the story.

12 posted on 03/22/2006 4:25:20 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Graybeard58

Was this a racist hate-crime double murder?


13 posted on 03/22/2006 4:27:04 PM PST by Rockpile
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To: Billthedrill

The scumbag murderers barely get more time in prison than the Abu Ghraib dog handler could have gotten. Thanks a lot, liberal justice system.


14 posted on 03/22/2006 4:28:09 PM PST by TNCMAXQ
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To: Farmer Dean

There was to be a new inductee to the Greater Huntsville Flatliners' Club here in Texas tonight. They usually start at about six in the evening. It's now 6:30 so I expect to see a thread here before too long with the 'details'....


15 posted on 03/22/2006 4:30:08 PM PST by GW and Twins Pawpaw (Sheepdog for Five [My grandkids are way more important than any lefty's feelings!])
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To: Graybeard58

Unbelievable. Where is justice for the two victims? This stinks.


16 posted on 03/22/2006 4:30:40 PM PST by Old Grumpy
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To: Graybeard58

Serious miscarriage of justice. I hope the prosecutor lost his job.

The parole board, too. Even if both perps were found guilty of being accessories to murder, the penalty for being an accessory to a cold-blooded murder should be a lot more years than that.


17 posted on 03/22/2006 4:30:47 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Rockpile

Perish the thought!

/sarc


18 posted on 03/22/2006 4:31:50 PM PST by Number57
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To: Rockpile
"Was this a racist hate-crime double murder"

Of course it was.

19 posted on 03/22/2006 4:34:13 PM PST by StormEye
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To: Graybeard58

I hope someone in one of the victim's families has something he/she wants to get off his/her chest.


20 posted on 03/22/2006 4:43:58 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth (Di'ver'si'ty (adj.): A compound word derived from the root words: division; perversion; adversity.)
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